PAINT NEW ZEALAND

You’ll Become Known as the Exotic Artist Who Painted the Land of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings

FEBRUARY 24th – MARCH 5th, 2017

Join PleinAir Magazine Publisher Eric Rhoads in New Zealand for the Trip of a Lifetime.

The trip is available to painters and spouses/partners

Includes a special VIP behind-the-scenes visit

Limited to 50 people.

Last February I took a group of 100 artists to Cuba. Not only did we tour and paint for a week, most of the artists received a side benefit they never expected: They have become known in their areas as “the artist who went to Cuba.” That has brought media coverage and art shows of their Cuba work, and let them stand out as one of very few who were part of a special, historic painting group.

Here is what artist Michele Byrne said in an e-mail to me just the other day:

“When the Cuba trip was first announced, I signed up within the first five minutes … It was a place I’ve always wanted to go, and I knew that it was going to be a great experience. However, I did not guess how it was going to affect my painting style and my life!

“Many galleries asked for shows. Right now I am on cloud nine, because I sold five of the paintings I did in Cuba … It paid for my trip this past year, as well as a trip next year!

“The Reading Eagle is doing an article on me this month, and a radio station is making a podcast on Wednesday.

“I know many of the artists on the trip are having similar accolades. I just wanted to fill you in and THANK YOU!”

Why My Next Big Trip Is New Zealand

First and foremost, after traveling the world, I believe New Zealand is the most beautiful country on earth. Its vast variety of landscapes packed into two small islands is unmatched.

If you’ve never seen The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, it might be worth renting them just to see the scenery.

It’s the kind of scenery that takes your breath away.

It’s the kind of scenery that makes art buyers want to have those scenes hanging in their homes.

Artists applying to be a part of this trip will become “the artist who painted New Zealand.” The result could be local media coverage and art shows and a great feather in your cap for your image as an artist. This is a great marketing hook to make you stand out.

New Zealand is a popular film spot because its two tiny islands can provide just about any scenery — giant cascading waterfalls, stunning fjords, snow-capped volcanic mountains, rich rolling hills, and deep tropical forests. Movies filmed there include:

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings

Avatar

The Last Samurai

Whale Rider

Vertical Limit

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Piano

I first went to New Zealand in the 1980s as a photographer, and I must say it was probably the most stunning place I’ve ever photographed. I’ve wanted to return ever since, but because it’s such an ambitious trip, I was never quite motivated enough to do it on my own. Now I have the motivation.

Not a Trip Most Will Do on Their Own

Last October, during Fall Color Week in Maine, I asked the artists in attendance what places they most wanted to visit and paint. New Zealand was at the top of the list. But I learned that most wouldn’t make the trip on their own, both because of the distance and because they didn’t really have a feel for where in New Zealand to go.

We decided that if we made it easy and affordable, and a small, exclusive group, people might jump at the opportunity — knowing that they probably would never check New Zealand off their bucket lists if they had to do it on their own.

In fact, one single lady who signed up told me:

“I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand, but I simply would never have gone on my own. You’ve made it easy for me because it’s affordable, I won’t be alone, I know I’ll be safe, and I know you’ll pick the best places to paint.”

Why I’m Limiting This Trip to 50 People

Most of my Publisher’s Invitational events are about 100 or 125 people, but I learned an important lesson in Cuba. When buses and touring are involved, everyone wants to be together. Though it was a great trip, it was simply too large a group for everyone to get close to one another. This way, we can all ride the same bus. Also, we’ll be taking a spectacular boat trip out on to Milford Sound to a paint spot and the capacity of the boat is about the size of this group.

I announced this trip at the Plein Air Convention and sold the first seats, and at this moment we are sold out. And until this moment, no one else has known about this trip.

A Special Bonus VIP Moment

The George Lucas of New Zealand is Sir Richard Taylor. He did all the costumes, weapons, sets, and effects for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, partnering with movie director Peter Jackson. He has more Academy Awards than most people in Hollywood could ever dream of.

For the last two years, Richard has been encouraging me to visit his Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand — a legendary workshop filled with some of the finest painters, sculptors, and effects artists in the world. He loves artists and is an artist himself, so when I told him I’m bringing 50 artists with me to New Zealand, he extended a special invitation to visit the workshop and to visit with him. If Steven Spielberg invites you, you don’t turn it down. This man is almost as big (and Spielberg is one of his clients), and you get to meet him in person. He is doing this as a special favor to me. From what I’m told by friends who have visited, this alone is worth the trip.

Time allocated for personal shopping at Auckland’s top shopping precincts

4:00pm – Transfer by private coach from Langham Hotel to Auckland International Airport

4:45pm – Arrive Auckland International Airport

7:30pm – Depart to LAX

2:10pm – Arrive LAX (duration 12hrs 15 min)

The Dream of Most Artists

Most artists tell me there are two things critically important to them. Number one is making sure their painting is great and always growing. Number two is traveling the world to exotic places to paint. This trip will help you grow, with lots of painting for nine days straight, and you’ll become known as “the artist who painted New Zealand,” which is very exotic.

I hope you’ll consider joining me on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Though it may be a stretch, ask yourself if this opportunity will come up again. I probably won’t repeat this trip. Would you go on your own? Would it be easy to find and get to all the beautiful paint spots?

After my Cuba announcement, all 100 seats sold out in a matter of days, and the first half were sold within about two days. This trip has half as many seats, and at this moment all 50 seats have been filled (which includes me).
Don’t mull it over too long. If you are truly interested, please sign up for our waiting list. We will have to close registration before long so we can get started on all the trip details with our travel partners in New Zealand, and if you don’t have a passport, you’ll want to get your application in soon.

This is going to be a lifetime memory for me, and I’m already communicating with a gallery about a New Zealand show following the trip. Join me in making this a lifetime memory for you.

Eric Rhoads

Publisher
PleinAir Magazine

February 24-March 5, 2017

$7,500 in full based on shared room price per person (9 single rooms are available at $9,497)

PS: When it’s winter in the U.S., it’s summer in New Zealand. February there is like August here. So while others are suffering with February snow, you’ll be enjoying nine days of summer painting. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Most of the Publisher’s Invitational events are about 100 or 125 people, but we learned an important lesson in Cuba. When buses and touring are involved, everyone wants to be together. Though it was a great trip, it was simply too large a group for everyone to get close to one another. This way, we can all ride the same bus. Also, we’ll be taking a spectacular boat trip out on to Milford Sound to a paint spot and the capacity of the boat is about the size of this group.